Foot rest for shovels and the like



Feb. 13, 1923. 1,4455% w. E. OWEN FOOT REST FOR SHOVELS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 11, 1921 3 noantoz FOOT R3353)? FOR SHOVELS AND THE LIKE.

AppIication filed (I ctober 11, 1821. Serial No. 506,995).

To all its/Lomit may concern:

Be it known that I, lVAL'rnn lll. Owen. a citizen of the Unitec States, residing at Uhillicothe, in the county of Ross and State of @hio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot Bests "l'or ifiliOVGlS and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for shovels and spades.

The object of the invention is to prov1de a device for attachment to a spade or shovel handle to provide a foot rest to force the blade into the earth when excavating in a ditch or hole.

Another object is to so construct a device of this character that it may be quickly moved from one position to another and secured with the exertion of very slight ei'l'ort and which is strong and durable and capable oi? withstand ing all strains to which it may be subjected.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown. de-

scribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a shovel with this improved-attachment shown applied and the foot of the user in dotted lines in. operative position thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the attachment attacheijl to the handle oil the shovel to which it is applied being shown broken ofl' and in section; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the attachment in top plan View.

In the embodiment illustrated a shovel 1 of ordinar) construction is shown, provided with the usual handle 2 and blade 3.

The foot rest 5 constituting this invention is shown applied to the handle 2 and comrises two jaws 6 and T shaped to conform to the handle 2 in connection with which it is to be usech being here shown semi-nincular in configuration and pivotally connect-- ed at one end as shown at 8. These jaws 6 and 7 are provided at their tree ends with laterally extending arms 9 and 10 arranged in parallel relation to each other the arm carried by jaw 6 being shorter than arm 10 and bifurcated at its free end for a purpose presently to be described.

The longer arm 10 is slotted as. shown at 13 and. in said slot is mounted one end of a bar ll which is pivoted between the members oi? the slot as shown at 12 said bar being inserted between the furcations oil the arm 9 and projecting beyond said arm. To the free end of the bar 11 is pivoted a lever 1 L having a cam 15 at its inner end which is designed to enga 'e the outer .t'aee of arm 9 when in looking position and clampingly connect the jaws 6 and 7 in engagement with the handle of the shovel in connection with which the device is to be used.

The arm 10 ot the jaw 7 projects some distance beyond the arm 9 and is designed to form the foot rest proper so that force mav be exerted by the user when digging in the bottoms of ditches, holes and the like as is shown in 1, it being obvious that the rest 5 may be positioned at any desired location on the handle 2 accordiiig to the depth of the ditch being dug.

in the use of this attachment the cam lever ii is swung forwardly to release the jaws (3 and 'T and the device is slipped lO'Hgl ZLh ilinull on the handle 2 until it reaches the desired position when said lever 'l-iis swung; inwardly into position shown in Figs. and 3 and thereby clampingly engaged with the handle read for use. I I

From the above description it will be obvious that this foot rest may he quicklv clamped and unclampcd from tho handlh i5 and positioned whore desired l'l'iereon so that the proper 'l'orco may be exerted on the blade 23 ot the shovel in ditches and the like.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the cla med invention mav be made in the construction without departing from the principle 0 invention or sacrificing any of its adva I claim z- 1. A, foot rest for shovels comprising a pair of clamping jaws shaped to conform to the handle .in coni'iection with which they are to he used and pivotall connected at one end, the other end of said jaws having la erally extending; arms, and a lever and link connection for clampingly coni'iectin g said arm to engage said jaws with the handle in connection with which the device is to be used.

2. A foot rest for shovels comprising a pair of handle connectingjaws pivotally connected atone end and provided at'theii' other lockingly engage said arms to force them ones with laterally extending arms, one of toward. each other and clamp the jaws to said arms being longer than the other, a the handle in connection with which the 10 link or bar pivoted at one end to one of device is to be used.

said arms and engaged with the other arm, In testimony whereof, I affix my signature and projecting beyond said arm, and a cam hereto.

level carried by said link and adapted to WALTER E. OWVEN. 

